There were several magical moments at the IAAF Diamond League Meeting in Monaco, but topping the list was the women’s 3000m Steeplechase where Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech ran an imperious race to win the event in a World Record (WR) time of 8:44.32.
The 27-year old narrowly missed a podium finish at last year’s World Championships in London after missing the final water jump and ended in 4th place.
However, she has now joined the greats in the event with her scintillating performance in Monaco where she pulled away from the rest of the field, going solo and smashing Ruth Jebet’s former WR of 8:52.78 set in Paris two years ago, inspiring seven women to break 9:10.
Following in 2nd place was London 2017 Silver medallist Courtney Frerichs who also made history by erasing Emma Coburn’s American Record of 9:02.58 and her own Personal Best (PB) of 9:03.77, replacing it with a time of 9:00.85. Hyvin Kiyeng was 3rd in 9:04.41.
Meanwhile, it was Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali who stole the show in the men’s event as he stunned reigning Olympic and World Champion Conseslus Kipruto to claim the victory in a World Lead and PB of 7:58.15 as Evan Jager settled for 2nd in a Season’s Best (SB) of 8:01.02. Kipruto was 3rd in 8:09.78.
